FanTake: In Midst of Dreary Off-Season, Hope Still Remains

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Nick Knieling — 2 Comments ↓

Editor's Note: This is the first in hopefully many FanTakes. If you are interested in writing your own FanTake, please visit this link for more details. The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this site.

This off-season has been one of the most memorable for Blue Devil fans, but it has been memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Sure, you can talk to me about the 2009 "swing and miss" recruitment of Harrison Barnes (the infamous Skype date with Roy and his fellas), or you can talk about Kyrie ducking out early after the 2010-11 season. We can even go all the way back to the end of the 1998-99 season, where, in that off-season, we saw the Duke program take a major hit of young talent heading to the NBA (Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Trajan Landon, and William Avery).

But this off-season has been unique in a variety of aspects: the loss of a young talent to the NBA (Austin Rivers), we have seen "Silent G" , Michael Gbinije, move out of the confines of Durham and head north to eventual ACC rival, Syracuse, and I can't even count on one hand the number of swing and misses the Duke coaching staff has taken on some big-time recruits. In the midst of this depressing off-season, we can still find hope, Blue Devil fans! See more ›

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Tagged with: Alex Murphy, Amile Jefferson, Andre Dawkins, Mason Plumelee, Michael Gbinije, Rasheed Sulaimon, Ryan Kelly, Seth Curry
Posted in FanTake

Andrew Wiggins, Theo Pinson and Tyus Jones Talk Duke Basketball

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Jim O. — 3 Comments ↓

Five-Star Basketball just send me this video for you guys to see. It features Andrew Wiggins, Theo Pinson, and Tyus Jones discussing what it would be like to play at Duke. I especially like that Tyus Jones is interested in getting a good (i.e. Duke, not UNC) education. Enjoy.

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Tagged with: Andrew Wiggins, Theo Penson, Tyus Jones
Posted in Duke Recruiting, Videos

‘So What’cha Want’ for Duke Basketball in 2012-2013

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Mike Kline — No Comments ↓

Anybody who knows anything about music heard about Adam “MCA” Yauch of the Beastie Boys passing away on Friday after a battle with cancer. As far as I know there was never a connection to MCA, the Beastie Boys and Duke Basketball, but for me there will always be a tenuous connection.

While in middle school the Beastie Boys’ Check Your Head album came out and I listened to one song religiously. It was, So What’cha Want. At the time I was on the school’s basketball team and I remember listening to that song prior to basketball practice and on the way to games.

It was infectious and it was an infusion of hip hop into my typical grunge or college rock listening fare. It was about that time when I was becoming fully ingrained for life as a Duke Basketball fan. I wanted to play for Mike Krzyzewski and be a Blue Devil. The only problem was I had no real talent to speak of and the top college program in the country was not beating down the door of a 5-foot-8 (at the time) power forward. See more ›

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Tagged with: Alex Murphy, Amile Jefferson, Andre Dawkins, Beastie Boys, Josh Hairston, Marshall Plumlee, Mason Plumlee, Quinn Cook, Rasheed Sulaimon, Ryan Kelly, Seth Curry, Tyler Thornton
Posted in Duke Basketball

Matt Jones: From Recruit to Recruiter

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Jim O. — No Comments ↓

If you haven’t already, check out Josh Paunil’s interview with Matt Jones. There are some very interesting questions and respones. However, what stood out to me was when Josh asked Matt if he’s recruiting anyone to join him at Duke. He mentioned Julius Randle, Ishmail Wainright, Allerik Freeman and Anthony Barber.

The follow-up question is where it get’s interesting.

Josh Paunil: Who do you think you have the best shot at persuading?

Matt Jones: Ishmail and Julius probably. I talk to them the most. I know Julius like Dukes a lot — they all like Duke a lot. I just have to stay in their ears and make sure Duke is number one at the end of the day.

If Matt Jones can convenience both Ishmail Wainright and Julius Randle to attend Duke, we may have to promote him to head recruiter, especially if Duke whiffs on Amile Jefferson.

Please check out the entire interview is definitely worth reading.

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Tagged with: Allerik Freeman, Anthony Barber, Ishmail Wainright, Josh Paunil, Julius Randle, Matt Jones
Posted in Duke Recruiting

Interested in writing about Duke Basketball? Read this to find out how.

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Jim O. — 14 Comments ↓

I've been thinking of ways to involve you, the reader, more on my site and I think I've found a way. It's called Fan Take. I'm looking for fans who want to write articles about Duke Basketball and/or Duke Football.

You're free to vent, analyze, or make us laugh, I real don't care. If you just want to show off your writing skills or just to get your name out there, that's fine too. Sometimes Twitter and Forums just aren't the right avenue to say what you want to say.

You are welcome to write a one time article, a monthly one, or even weekly, the frequency is really up to you.

Of course there are some limitations. Poor written, overly profane, and the like will probably be rejected, but I do want you to be free to speak your mind.

You will not be paid, however, if I find your writing exceptional and people are really responding to it, that could change, especially if you are writing once a week or more.

If you are interested, please let me know. You can contact me here for more details or just leave a comment below.

**Update** I had some issues with my Contact form, so if I haven't replied back to you, please inquire again.

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Posted in Duke Basketball, FanTake

Tears to Tar Heels, Duke Commit Matt Jones is Legit

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Curtis Clontz — 1 Comment ↓

The NBA playoffs have kicked off and Duke players are everywhere. Boasting eight former Blue Devils in this post season alone, the mantra that Duke can't get you to the show is obviously false.

As many in Blue Devil Nation sit back and enjoy the "old guys", they also have their eyes focused towards the future of the program. At the moment, Duke only has two commitments for the next two years. 2012 Duke brings in Rasheed Sulaimon who not only spurned UNC and MJ, he is one of the country's best.

2013 is much farther away, and Duke is expected to land one or two more "big fish" as DukeReport.com's own Jim Oliver always says. Competing with the likes of Kentucky has always been an issue, but Duke always seems to get one special player in each class. 2013 will be the class of Matt Jones.

Currently being dubbed as the 22nd best player in the class (ESPNU), this young athlete is growing each and every day! He is already being called "the perfect shooting guard" and is said that he "never misses an open 3". If you are a Duke fan and you aren't smiling, you will be once he steps onto the court for Duke. See more ›

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Tagged with: Andre Dawkins, Julius Randle, Matt Jones, Rasheed Sulaimon, Seth Curry
Posted in Duke Recruiting